Category: Ohio

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Cincinnati, OH. Cincinnati is rich with history, culture and things to do. I didn’t even begin to scratch the surface of this amazing town and look forward to returning.

I have an interest in the history of the United States, the good, the bad and the ugly. I was excited to visit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. The exhibits at the center are well done and very informative. I had a general knowledge of slavery but had no clue as to what life was like for the slaves. The Freedom Center helped enlighten me. I naively thought the Slavery Pen was a secret newspaper for slaves. I felt sick to my stomach when I read what it actually was. I cannot even begin to fathom the inhumane acts the slaves endured. Emotionally I was only able to walk through half of the museum before I had to stop. I would like to return and finish the next time I am in the area. Insider tip: the Emancipation Proclamation is currently the special exhibit.

The Emancipation Proclamation

Slave Pen

Cotton

Friday evening I had the opportunity to dine at Taft’s Ale House near Washington Park. The place was hopping. The former 1850 Protestant Parish turned brew pub is charming. There were only a few gluten free options. I chose the Tri Tip Steak with a salad to replace the potatoes and gravy. The food was delicious and worth the wait. Insider tip: street parking can be difficult. There is an underground parking garage at Washington Park, just a block or two away.

Washington Park is a gem and has something for everybody. There was live music playing and a beautiful set of fountains to splash in. People of all ages were wandering around trying to collect their next Pokémon in Pokémon Go.

The night life scene in this area is very busy. There are many restaurants and pubs in the area. We made our way to Graeter’s Over the Rhine for the most amazing locally made ice cream. They offer free samples to help narrow your selection. It was so delicious that I slurped it up before I could take a picture. Insider tip: request a cup and get your second scoop of ice cream at a discount price!

Right outside of Cincinnati there are two places I visited that are worth mentioning. The Bluebird Bakery and Chamoda’s Candy Cafe, located on Chester Road.

The Bluebird Bakery has beautiful pastries and my companions said they were delicious. I opted for a gluten free Buckeye and a tuna salad that was delicious. The service was wonderful and worth a return.

The owners at Chamoda’s Candy Café make you feel like family as soon as you walk in the door. They offer free samples of all their homemade candy. All the candy is handmade. What makes this place extra special is the story behind this candy store. Chamoda was a UC football player that passed away. He inspired his dad to open this candy store. To honor his son a portion of the profits go to the Chamoda Kennedy-Palmore Scholarship Fund. Insider tip: try the free samples!

Washington Park fountains

Taft’s Ale House Tri Tip

Cincinnati is an amazing place and three days doesn’t do it justice. What are your recommendations for when I return in 2018?